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STAYING HOME: Cy Ranch QB Braden Baker commits to Houston
The Mustangs star quarterback’s decision to commit came down to the relationships that the Houston staff built with him.
“Houston felt like home because of my relationships with the whole staff,” Baker said on committing to Houston. “The moment I told coach Shawn Bell i was committing was a dream come true and we were both pumped about it.”
Baker will get to play Power Four football close to home which also means a great deal to the local gunslinger.
“It is such a blessing that i get to compete at the power four level,” he said. “I get to play in big time football games while being less than an hour from home which is amazing.”
Baker is coming off a big junior seasons earning District 17-6A MVP after throwing for 2,806 yards with 32 passing touchdowns and also rushed 71 times for 235 yards with three rushing touchdowns.
With his commitment now out of the way, he’s looking forward to a big senior season and leading the Mustangs to another deer playoff run.
“Having my commitment out of the way means a lot, it has taken a lot of stress off my shoulders and feels good to finally have a decision,” he said. “My goals for my senior season are to make a state run with my team and to earn that district MVP.”
Watch out for Baker and the Mustangs next fall as they look to make a deep playoff run to Jerry's World.
Whataburger Team of the Week: Cy Ranch VB opens 2025 with stifling momentum, Tournament-glory
Led by head coach Dr. Collea McKinney—who took over in 2023 following Chrissy Woodward’s tenure—Cy Ranch has continued to assert itself as one of Texas’ perennial powerhouses.
They recently rolled through the Cy-Fair ISD/Katy ISD Tournament with an unblemished 8-0 run, claiming the championship for a second straight year. That title-clinching effort was capped off with a thrilling reverse sweep, showcasing both grit and poise.
Currently ranked No. 6 in the state by MaxPreps and No. 4 in Texas Volleyball Insiders’ Class 6A poll, the Mustangs’ depth and experience have been instrumental in their early-season success.
The stars of 2025-26 Cypress Ranch VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Senior Madyson Carr led the way in the tournament, earning MVP honors, while fellow seniors Kennedy White (All-Tournament Blocker), Rice-commit Zora Bello (All-Tournament Setter), and Kinsley Hooper (All-Tournament Libero) provided key contributions on both ends of the court.
Other notable standouts, thus far, include Memphis-commit Kaylee Parker (Sr. OH), Southwestern-bound Caroline Srubar (Sr. S), Saniya Reynolds (Jr. MB), and sophomore outside hitter Sade Bello—Zora’s younger sister—who continues to shine in her second varsity season.
The road ahead features several key matchups, including a marquee non-district contest against Tompkins this Friday. The Mustangs are also set to compete in the Leader ISD Volleypalooza and Clear Creek ISD Tournaments, where they’ll look to keep up the pace against a high level of competition.
Ultimately, Cypress Ranch will have its eyes on securing the outright District 16-6A title—after splitting it with Bridgeland last season—and making a more extensive postseason run following last year’s early playoff exit in the Area Round to The Woodlands.
If how they have performed up to this point is any indication, this could be the year that CRHS breaks through the barrier.